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UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
General Certificate of Education Advanced Subsidiary Level and Advanced Level
9696/21
GEOGRAPHY
Paper 2 Advanced Physical Options
October/November 2009
1 hour 30 minutes
*4760858486*
Additional Materials:
Answer Booklet/Paper
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Write your Centre number, candidate number and name on all the work you hand in.
Write in dark blue or black pen.
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Answer two questions only. Each question answered must be from a different topic.
Sketch maps and diagrams should be drawn whenever they serve to illustrate an answer.
You should make reference to appropriate examples studied in the field or the classroom, even where such
examples are not specifically requested by the question.
All the Figures and the Photograph referred to in the questions are contained in the Insert.
At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together.
The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.
This document consists of 3 printed pages, 1 blank page and 1 Insert.
IB09 11_9696_21/3RP
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Tropical environments
Only one question may be answered from this topic.
1
(a) Describe the factors that affect the development of soils in the humid tropics.
[10]
(b) In the tropics, to what extent does the formation of landforms in granite differ from that of
landforms in limestone?
[15]
2
(a) Fig. 1 shows the average position of the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) in July and
January.
Describe and explain the ITCZ, its movement and its effects upon tropical rainfall.
[10]
(b) Describe the vegetation structure of the tropical rainforest and of the savanna, and explain
why they differ.
[15]
Coastal environments
Only one question may be answered from this topic.
3
(a) Why do beaches vary in profile and plan?
[10]
(b) To what extent can coral coastlines be regarded as fragile environments? What steps can be
taken to protect them?
[15]
4
(a) Figs 2A and 2B show a stretch of coastline before and after disturbance of a sediment cell.
Fig. 2A shows an undisturbed sediment cell and Fig. 2B a disturbed sediment cell.
Explain how the changes shown in Fig. 2B have affected the operation of the sediment cell
shown in Fig. 2A.
[10]
(b) Describe the landforms that are produced by erosion along a rocky coastline. Explain the
main factors that shape these landforms.
[15]
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Hazardous environments
Only one question may be answered from this topic.
5
(a) How and where do earthquakes occur?
[10]
(b) What methods can be used to predict earthquakes? How successful have these methods
been?
[15]
6
(a) Fig. 3 shows two different types of development on a river flood plain, together with some
predicted levels of flooding.
To what extent will the regulated flood plain development (B) be more successful than the
unregulated flood plain development (A) in reducing the hazards associated with flooding?
[10]
(b) Flooding can occur in more than one type of hazardous environment.
Explain how this might be caused by different hazards and describe the hazardous effects
that water might have.
[15]
Arid and semi-arid environments
Only one question may be answered from this topic.
7
(a) Compare and contrast the climatic characteristics found in hot arid and semi-arid areas. [10]
(b) How might sustainable management strategies be used to address environmental problems
in either hot arid or semi-arid areas?
[15]
8
(a) Photograph A shows landforms and vegetation in a hot desert environment.
Using a labelled diagram, identify and describe the landforms and vegetation shown in
Photograph A.
[10]
(b) Explain the processes that you consider most significant in the formation of desert landforms
such as those shown in Photograph A.
[15]
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BLANK PAGE
Copyright Acknowledgements:
Question 4 Figure 2
Question 5 Figure 3
Question 8 Photograph A
© Geo Factsheet 195, p.2; www.curriculum-press.co.uk.
© Smithson, Addison, Atkinson; Fundamentals of the Physical Environment; p.300; Routledge; 2002.
R J Small; © UCLES.
Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.
University of Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of
Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge.
9696/21/O/N/09
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